Pigeon trap



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

J. J. KING.

PIGBON TRAP.

No. 381,886. Patented Apr. 17, 1888.

N. PETERS. PhMvLi-hughlwr. Washington D4 C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. J. KING. PIGEON TRAP.

(No Model.)

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STATES EEicE.

PATENT PIGEON-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 381,386, dated April 17, 1888.

Application filed July 28, 18S7. Serial No. 245,532. (No model.)

T0 'all whom, it 77mg/ concern:

Beit known that I, JEREMIAH J. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pigeon-Traps, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention consists in an apparatus for springing pigeon-traps andthe like, as is fully set forth in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a front elevation ofthe trap-springing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the plane m m, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the plane y y, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in the plane .e z, Fig. 2, ofa portion of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a similar section in the plane so w', Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section in the plane y' y', Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an inverted perspective ofa detailpart. Fig. Sis a vertical longitudinal section of a trap and its lock. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan of the entire apparatus as situated in the field, said igure being drawn to a smaller scale than the preceding figures.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A, Figs. l and 2, designates a frame which supports the operating parts of the trap-starting apparatus. On a suitable shelf, A', of the frame is secured a hollow cylindrical casing, B, in which is located a number of movable segments, bo b* b' bibi, Figs. 2, 4, and 6. Said segments are arranged about a common center, and from the same eX- tend vertical rods a0 a a' ci ai, which are connected, respectively, by suitable chains or cords, c c c' o2, die., with crank-levers cl, Figs. l and 2, that can turn about a horizontal shaft, D, arranged near the bottom of the frame. The said crank-levers, Figs. 2 and E), are eventually connected by cords or chains d' d2 d and interposed crank-levers with the locking-levers F, or other equivalent locks, Figs. 8 and 9, of the respective traps To T T', dsc., which are distributed in the iield in the usual manner.

The traps T, Fig. S, are of ordinary construction, having their backs hinged to the bottom and subjected to the action of a stift spring, T21, their tops hinged to the backs and the sides and front hinged tothe top. A nib,

rising from the frame.

g, on the front is engaged by a nose, g', on the locking-lever E, which latter is pivoted at g2 to a lug, g3, projecting from the bottom of the trap. A spiral spring, g, stretched between the lever E and the hollow support vS of the trap, holds the said lever normally in contact with the nib g on the trap. When the lever E is vibrated to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, the front of the trap is released and t-he same is thrown open by the action of the spring Titi. The segments bo b b', che., connected with the releasing-levers E ol" the traps, normally rest upon a circular ledge, a, Fig. 2, formed in the casing B, and can be raised from the same by the use of an actuator, F, Figs. l and 2, whereby one of the traps is sprung.

The actuator F consists of a vertical spindle, f, which extends through the center of the casing B, and has a bearing at itslower end in a cup-shaped support, h, that is affixed to the upper end of a bent slide, G. From the spindle f projects a finger, f', which is adapted to engage with the under side of any particular one of the segments b b b', duc., Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6, when the actuator is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 by the movements of the slide G.

The slide G can move in suitable ways, G', secured to the frame A, and it is connected at L' to a cross-head, H. A pitman, h2, connects this cross-head with a spindle, H', carried by a treadle, I, which is pivoted at t' to the lugs Vhen the outer end of the treadle l is depressed to occupy the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the slide G is raised, carrying the actuator F with it. The iinger of the actuator engages a segment, as b', and moves the same upward, whereby the corresponding trap is started. A spring, l', attached to the slide G and to the frame A, returns the operating parts to their normal position, the slide in this case coming into contact with a suitable stop, t'.

To rota-te the actuator F after each depression of the treadle I, l provide the latter with a notched milled head, F', which may be in the shape of a wheel. This head F', Figs. l, 2, and 3, is adapted to be engaged by an engaging device, J, aflixed to a horizontal sliding bolt, J', located behind the casing B. The said sliding bolt is supported in a suitable frame, j, secured to the shelf A', and is pro- IOO vided with suitable stops to. limit its motion in either direction, said stops engaging the` framej. The bolt is actuated to move in the vdirection of arrow 1, Fig. 1, by a lever, ZL, Figs. 1 and 8, one arm, Z, of which engages its ends and the other arm of which is connected by a link, L, with the cross-head H. On the opposite end of the bolt J is formed a hook, j', which is adapted to be engaged at certain intervals by a spring-pressed latch, M, which is arranged in line with the bolt on the frame j. 'Ihe outer arm of the latch is engaged by anarm, n, on theupper end ofa vertical rod,

WN, Fig. 1, that is connected to the cross-head II and the treadle I.

The engaging device J on the bolt J can be in the form of a wheel made-ofrubber or other suitable material, which is so arranged tha-t it will engage with the periphery of the head F and rotate the actuator.

When the treadle I is depressed, the actuator moves upward and the bolt slides in the direction of arrow 1, Fig. 1, but does not engage the head F. The bolt at the end of its motion is held by the latch M until the actuator has descended, upon which the arm n of the rod N engages the latch and releases the bolt, which rapidly returns under the action of a stout spiral spring, J2., Figs. 1 and 2, attached to the framej. In this rapid return move-f ment of the bolt the actuating device J engages the head F of the actuator and rotates the same, whereby the finger f is brought under another one of the segments, bo b b', dto.

To prevent the finger .f from drawing upward two of the segments at once its upper portion is in the form of a knife-edge, and the segments are hollowed out to form sharp meeting inclined walls, Figs. 6 and 7, so that the said finger will slip into one or the other of the segments.

In practice the cords or chains tl, eventuallyconnecting with the segments b lfb', se., are arranged in a conduit, P, which connects with a curved conduit, P', in which are arranged crank-levers p p', Ste., which are connected with the cords d and by cords or chains d2 and d3 with the releasing-levers E.

To take up any slack in the-cords or chains d, I provide suitable buckles, di, Figs. 1 and 2, which are connected to the threaded end of the rods o9 c c', Ste., and to take up slack in the cords or chains d di, I provide a set-screw, d*, which engages a threaded eyebolt, d5, extending through the releasing-lever E.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 9, it will be observed that the ngerf of the actuator F is directly under the segment b', and consequently,

when the actuator is elevated by depressingY the treadle I, the trap T. is sprung, whereupon the actuator is rotated, as previously described, to cause the ngerf to come beneath another of the segments. The actuator is rotated through a considerable number of revou lutions, and consequently the segment under which the ngerf will remain stationary cannot be 4determined in any way', and the starter, or person having charge of the apparatus, does not know which trap he will spring on depressing the treadle.

In some cases it is desirable to repeatedly spring several traps at one and the same time.

V'Io accomplish this it is only necessary to remove the cords or chains d from their proper segments and attach the same to one and the same segment, so that when the latter segment is actuated it will draw all the chains attached thereto.

The link L is disconnected from the crosshead II, so that the bolt J will not be moved to rotate the actuator F. The finger f of the actuator F is then set to engage the segments having the chains attached. .The link L is held clear of the crosshead H by an arm, h3, pivoted to the frame, Fig. 1,*which is swung outward to engage thelink. A friction-brake, Fig. 5, consisting of a lever, R, pivoted to the casing, which is in contact with a spring, 1', can be thrown into engagement with the spind'lef to prevent the actuator from being in vadvertently turned as the latter is reciprocated. The spring r serves to hold the lever R in forcible contact with the spindle.

Heretofore pigeon-traps have been'sprung by the starter by pulling the trapchains by hand, and consequently the particular trap to besprung was at the option of the starter. v. By the use rof the apparatus herein described g the starter is unable to previously determine the trap to be sprung, as said apparatus acts automatically. By attaching a handle to the slide G or providing a hand-lever in engagenient with the same the apparatus can be operated by hand as well as by foot.

The apparatus can evidently be used for springing clay-pigeon or glassball traps.

, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

ICO

1. The combination, with a hinged trap,vT,

and acatch, E, for locking the trap, of avertically-movable segment,vb, a pivoted crank-lever, d, connections between said crank-lever and catch, connections between said crank-lever and segment, a vertically-movable slide, G, a spindlejcarried by said slide and engaging the segment when raised, and means forraising and lowering the slide to actuate the segment, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a trap, T, a vertically-movable segment, b, a pivoted crank-1ever, d, a catch, E, for locking the trap, connections between said catch and crank-lever and between the crank-lever and segment, a verticallymovable slide, G, a spindle carried by the latter and engaging the segment b, and a pivoted treadle, I, connected with the slide substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a series of traps, of a case, B, a series of vertically-movable segments guided by the latter, a series of pivoted cranlclevers, catches E, for locking the traps, connections between the respective crank-levers and segments and between the said cranklevers and catches, and means, substantially such as described, for raising the segments to operate the crank-levers and open the traps, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a series of traps, of a case, B, aseries of vertically-movable segments guided by the latter, a series of pivoted crank-levers, connections between the respective segments and crank -levers, a series of catches, E, for locking the traps, connections between said catches and crank-levers, a vertically-movable guide, G, a spindle,f, carried by the slide to engage the segments, and means for raising and lowering the slide and rotating` the spindle, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a series of traps, of a series of vertically-movable segments, a series of pivoted levers, connections between said levers and segments, a series of catches for locking the traps, connections between said catches and levers, a vertically-movable slide, a spindle carried by the slide and having a iinger to engage the segments, means to rotate the spindle, and a treadle for raising` the slide and spindle, substantially` as described.

6. The combination, with a series of traps and catches for locking the same, of a series of rising and falling segments arranged about a common center, connections between each segment and the locking-catch ot' each trap, a spindle,f, having a iinger,f, to engage the segments, means for intermittently rotating the spindle, and mechanism for raising and lowering the spindle to operate the segments and release the traps, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a series of traps and catches for locking-the same, ot' a series of segments arranged about a common center, connections between each segment and the locking-catch of each trap, a slide, G, a spindle,f, having a head, F, and a iingerf, and supported by the slide, a sliding bolt, J, having a hook,j, and a device, J, to engage the head ofthe spindle, the lever I. Z, for moving the sliding bolt, a latch, M, for engaging the hook on the sliding bolt, a device, Nn, for releasing the latch, a spring, J2, for reti-acting the sliding bolt, and means, substantially as described, for operating the lever L Z, the releasing-catch, and raising and lowering the spindle.

' 8. The combination, with a series of traps and the locking-catches E for the same, of a series of segments, connections between each segment and each catch, a spindle having a head, F', and provided witha nger,f, engaging the segments, a slide supporting the spindle, means, substantially such as described, for imparting motion to the slide to raise and lower the spindle, and an engaging device for rotating the spindle, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination, with a series of traps and locking-catches for the same, of a series of segments, connections between each segment and each catch, a spindle movable in the direction of and about its aXis and having anger,f, to engage and lift the segments, mechanism for raising and lowering the spindle, and an engaging device for automatically rotating the spindle subsequent to its linear movement, substantially as shown and described.

10. The hollow segments b, having their adjacent sides beveled to form asharp juncture, in combination with the actuator F, having a tinger,f, provided with a knife edge, the traps, a locking-catch for each trap, connections between each segment and each catch, and devices, substantially as described, for raising and lowering and rotating the actuator to-operate the segments.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEREMIAH J. KING. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

W. C. HAUFF, A. FABER DU FAUR, Jr. 

